50 Best Dog Friendly Restaurants Johnston

“Huge shout out to Wasabi Johnston! My daughter wanted to go there for sushi for her bday dinner last night. I called ahead and asked if we could bring in a cake, etc... they were MORE than accommodating. They said whatever we needed! They kept it a secret until we finished our dinner. Brought out the cake, lit the candles, provided extra plates, a knife to cut it and were SO kind. Thank you guys all SO much! My daughter was thrilled (and embarrassed). Excellent dinner too!“

“We took our grandkids here. We were impressed by the food and service. It’s a brewery but it’s not just fried bar food , though they do have great cheese curds and fries. The West coast salad was perfect: evenly chopped, tossed and dressed. Very flavorful too. The Italian melt was such a tasty sandwich in every bite. The mortadella is to die for. Service is fast and friendly. The kids love the arcade (especially the classic pinball) and bowling is fun. Burgers are decent and fires hot and crispy and perfectly seasoned. Oh and the beers are all excellent, including root and ginger.“

“I’ve been traveling the state of Iowa, trying Iowa barbecue hands down! the BEST Wings, chicken & the turkey melts in your mouth“

“I want to give a shout out to Early Birds restaurant in West Des Moines. Kevin was a fantastic bartender. First time I have been here. The food was amazing. I love the atmosphere. The whole concept is great. The menu… too many things to choose from. I got the Cinnamon roll French toast. Delicious. And the Hashbrown holes delicious. It was great to get an appetizer before my French toast. I have to give a shout out to Kevin as he knows everything on the menu plus he has great suggestions for drinks from the bar! Will deffinately be going back again.“

“Best wings in DSM! The honey garlic is a must try. Always fast and fresh.“

“My family and I recently stopped at Smash Park in Des Moines on a whim for some family fun and food. The atmosphere was laid back and our kids thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor pickle ball courts and the arcade. Food, dessert and drinks were all crowd pleasers! And to go completely over the top, we left our blanket outside and Jerry answered my phone call, went outside to retrieve it from the bench where I left it, and mailed it back to me free of charge. In a world where kindness and customer support are harder and harder to come by, Jerry and Smash Park get a 10/10 from this family!!!“

“Absolutely delicious - huge portions and great service! Everything we had was soooo good! The restaurant was very clean and the staff was friendly and welcoming. Chicken 65, samosas, chicken briyani, butter chicken, chicken vindaloo, lamb roganjosh, and naan….and the complimentary mango custard - YUM!!!!“

“Good beer and food, but over priced, especially with added fees.“

“Betsy is always the best barista and very friendly with me and my dog Tela and I always love talking with her and she makes the best mocha ever!“

“Beautiful roasts, great pour overs, delicious shots and Gibraltars. Best in the state that I’ve found! Keep it up guys. Omg and the scones…perfect.“

“We had Sam and Billy for our servers at the bar, they were extremely friendly, attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. Our drinks stayed full with plenty of conversation. This is the reason we continue to come back to this hotel.“

“So many delicious flavors to choose from and friendly staff.“

“Best restaurant in ankney! By so far haven’t change. Has best customer service and FOOD!“

“Our family went out to a late lunch here today. The service was awesome, and the food was absolutely wonderful. We took advantage of their September special, and were able to try several menu items. None disappointed. They were all great. Decor and atmosphere were modern and chic. Highly recommend a visit!“

“Delicious ! Would 10/10 come back again and try all the flavors !“

“Great food and Great atmosphere!“

“Went for the first time as we are from 4 hours away. Everything was awesome. Got seated right away. And order was taken. Food came out hot. Didn’t try the pop tart as wasn’t sure what it was. But heard it is very good. Maybe next time we get to town. Service was outstanding“

“The staff are always super friendly and kind!“

“Always friendly service, fast and delicious!“

“We recognize Chris for going above and beyond at Wasabi Waukee on September 23, 2025.

We were facing an urgent issue with our keg cooler that was impacting draft service. Chris not only helped diagnose and repair the cooler on the spot, he also assisted with swapping in new kegs, confirming lines, pressures, and temperatures, and ensuring every tap was pouring correctly before he left. His professionalism, technical know-how, and willingness to stay until the job was truly complete prevented service interruptions during a busy period and saved us product waste.

Please pass along my thanks—this is exactly the kind of partnership we value. Chris represented Confluence exceptionally well.

Thank you,
Rhiannon King
General Manager, Wasabi Waukee“

“Service and food is always consistently good. The patio is a great setting and one of few restaurants in DSM that can offer this setting My only suggestion is to make sure the patio is regularly hosed down and absent of bird droppings. Great restaurant and would like to see more customers to keep this restauant strong“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sakari Sushi is hands down my favorite place for sushi in Des Moines! The food is always incredibly fresh, and the sushi is the best in town, no question. What really sets this place apart is the staff. They’re phenomenal, friendly, attentive, and always moving with purpose. You’ll never catch anyone just standing around; they’re constantly making sure everything runs smoothly and guests are taken care of. Special shoutout to our bartender Jake for mixing up the best drinks. His Painkiller cocktail is an absolute must-try! Whether you're a sushi lover or just looking for a great night out, Sakari never disappoints.“

“3/1/25 I ordered delivery My order was grilled chicken sandwich on sourdough bread with fries. The sandwich was very good and lots of great flavor. Herb fries were good too. I also, ordered the pretzel Bread Pudding, it was terrible dry and hard even with the carmel sauce. Bad choice.
8/10“

“I absolutely love this restaurant the food is amazing everything is always hot and fresh and soooo good. The catfish is crispy and crunchy 🤤from the Mac and cheese to the collard greens to sweet potatoes everything is superb and delicious and so delightful. You will not be disappointed the owner is so nice and the atmosphere the restaurant is a whole vibe 🫶🏾“

“Ankeny 7 Brew crew is the best! I have been going ever since they opened. The crew is very courteous and kind! They know me by name. They will chit chat with you until your coffee is ready. They are pretty fast and quick. I love the fact they have sugar free options. If you love coffee, come check them out. Let me warn you though, you will get addicted! All good though!“

“The BEST sour beers I’ve had!“

“😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋 awesome service and awesome food I’ll come back again and again 😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋“

“I served in the Army for nearly 10 years and was lucky enough to travel to Hawaii, where I first tried Hawaiian BBQ and loved it. When I found out there was a location here in Des Moines, I had to stop in while in town for the INPS Nurse Practitioner Conference.

The food was great—juicy, savory, and full of flavor. I ordered the Huli Huli Chicken (their main entrée, I think) and it did not disappoint. Their packaged sriracha sauce added the perfect heat. I do wish I had ordered veggies instead of double rice, but that’s on me! The twist soft serve was fantastic, and although I’m usually a huge fan of Spam and rice, I surprisingly didn’t love the spam musubi this time.

What really stood out was the service. My food was ready before I even sat down, every staff member I interacted with was friendly and smiling, and the restaurant was spotless. When I overheard they had a Veterans Day special after I’d already paid, the manager (David) went above and beyond and issued me a refund—very kind gesture. My only complaint was the ice machine running out, but the manager handled that right away.

All around, great food, excellent service, and an awesome team. I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in town and highly recommend this spot!“

“Great environment ( inside and out) to grab a beer and relax. Lots on tap to choose from. Never had one I didn’t like. Staff is friendly and happy to be there. Highly recommend.“

“I believe the manager that helped us with our reservation was named Jess. She. Was. PHENOMENAL! She had organized a proposal after our dinner. Out server, the cooks, the manager….everyone did such an amazing job at making it a beautiful night! The drinks were outstanding, the food was cooked perfectly, and I will definitely be back when I go to Des Moines again!“

“Sully's is a great Irish Pub that has great food and drink specials every night. They have a dog friendly patio and always welcome riders from the bike trails that are nearby. The staff is always inviting and it is overall a very fun bar. Go check it out!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My Koda Bear loves Paws & Pints, MoTail & Spa for lodging & grooming. And last, but surely not least the best Day Care ever. They treat Koda and us like we are Family. And during this holiday season, definitely want to tell you we are Thankful for you! Matt & I will be visiting my best friend’s bar this weekend. While Koda plays with his friends. Definitely five stars Matt, Susie & Koda“

“Awesome beer and support their local first responders!“

“pastry's are the best, eggnog is delish, but top 30% of the cup was foam.“

“We just stayed for one beer but this place has a great vibe, great beer and friendly staff. Looking forward to coming back.“

“Couldn’t recommend this place enough. We had a wonderful time tonight for a work outing. Called and made a reservation a week prior. Decor, atmosphere, and vibe was phenomenal. Our waitress, Kennedy, was a joy to have—attentive, friendly, and upbeat! Food was delicious! I think that’s one of the best breaded tenderloins I have had. It was thick, juicy, flavorful, and delicious! And what a pleasant surprise to be able to play DJ Bingo while there! It was truly a great time! Will be back!“

“Last week was my 1st time here, but the staff treated me like an old friend. & the pizza was amaaazing. While waiting for my food, there was a little girl who was dancing & fell (she was alright). The staff were very kind to her & even gave her a big cookie to have for dessert!“

“The staff are incredible!! Monty and I love all the helpful and friendly bar tenders! Highly HIGHLY recommend ☺️“

“Hands down my favorite bar. All the bartenders rock, the space is cozy, the drinks are actually reasonably priced, and they don’t skimp on the liquor. If it’s a busy night it can be HARD to find seating, but that’s most bars to be fair. Highly recommend“

“Favorite local ice cream!!“

“Great food and drinks! Service was fantastic, thank you to Cory and Zoey!! The kitchen team was hard working!!“

“Just a great bar, we meet our son there when we’re in town.“

“Elegant design, wonderful wood-fired pizza, great service, who could ask for more?“

“Went with my niece before an appointment. Showed up a little before 9 and Zuella was the cashier. She was very personable and polite. She had a warm feeling about her. We dined in and my niece and I both got the bacon, egg and cheese biscuit. Both sandwiches were fresh and Zuella came out and checked on us. She was very hospitable. Restaurant was clean. What I did appreciate was there was a table of staff all sitting together eating behind us. Whether it was them on break or about to start/ended shift, it was nice to see they were given that time and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Great experience.“

“This is a drive-thru coffee shop that's similar to a CarHop from the 1950s. Fun, super friendly, fast service at your car. The music is blasting and the girls come out to your car to take your order. It's usually pretty busy with several vehicles in line waiting, but the service is fast and the drinks are diverse with creative new mixtures. It's less expensive than Caribou or Starbucks. There is no dine-in option, the only drawback.“

“Always amazing service! I went through the drive thru a week or so ago and ordered, then pulled ahead and a younger boy made sure to stop and tell me my brakes were squeaking and it was extremely dangerous to drive in that condition. His concern was so sweet and thoughtful. You have very nice employees, I am always impressed!

I already had plans to fix my brakes but appreciated his genuine concern!“

“Excellent food“

“Excellent service and food!“

“Pally's is the kind of place you walk into and instantly feel at ease. Whether you're catching the game or just vibing to some great tunes, the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming—never too loud, always just right. The drink selection is top-notch, with something for every taste, and the food consistently impresses with fresh, high-quality ingredients. You can tell they care about what comes out of the kitchen. What really sets Pally's apart is the staff. Friendly, courteous, and genuinely attentive, they make you feel like a regular even if it's your first visit. If you're looking for a spot that blends good energy with great service, Pally's hits the mark.“